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Fire-Safe Cigarettes.
On Monday, June 28, 2004, New York became the first state to adopt an
important fire-safety law requiring the sale of fire-safe cigarettes.
Congress has been active on this issue as well, with recent legislation,
the Cigarette Fire Safety Act of 2004 (H.R. 4155) sponsored by Rep.
Edward J. Markey (D-MA), introduced in the House, and a similar bill
supported by Senator Richard J. Durbin (D-IL) to be introduced in the
Senate. The American Burn Association has strongly supported the
adoption of such legislation for many years and fully endorses recent
efforts and initiatives on this important issue.
More
information.
Bioterrorism
Legislative Update. In a key legislative achievement, the ABA succeeded in
getting burn centers written into the Bio-Terrorism legislation signed
into law on June 12th of this year. Approximately $1.6 billion is authorized for fiscal
year 2003 (burn centers were not covered by prior statutes, nor by the
legislative language initially passed). Initially, funds will flow through state and local
government entities; by 2004, hospitals may be able to access funds more directly. Support
of the ABA's expanded governmental affairs activity through membership dues
of burn center hospitals on the Institutional Advisory Council was crucial in this victory. Thanks to
all those who attended the ABA National Leadership Conference and to all who lobbied on
behalf of this legislative effort.
Children's Sleepwear Update.
The
ABA and the Shriners Hospitals for Children have been working
collaboratively to advocate flammability standard improvements for
children's sleepwear before the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC)
and in the Congress. We are
pleased to report that, in the data collection arena, progress is
being made. Under the direction of its new Chairman, Hal Stratton, the
CPSC has taken a very positive course of action on this issue. Read
more...
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